Brad Binder offers cryptic reply when asked if he’s getting Toprak Razgatlioglu’s dream crew chief

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Toprak Razgatlioglu will move to MotoGP with Pramac in 2026 and it appears his crew chief Phil Marron will also leave World Superbikes, but he will join Brad Binder at KTM.

It emerged earlier this week that Marron will join KTM as Binder’s crew chief in 2026, having reached an agreement with the Austrian squad about replacing Andres Madrid. Marron was widely expected to stay at BMW next year to work with Miguel Oliveira in World Superbikes.

BMW have signed Oliveira to replace Razgatlioglu in WSBK, following the Portuguese rider’s release by Yamaha to sign the latter to a two-year factory MotoGP contract. Razgatlioglu will debut in the prototype championship with satellite Yamaha team Pramac next to Jack Miller.

Razgatlioglu wanted Marron with him at Pramac, as the Turkish star and Northern Irish crew chief have worked together since 2019 and also had vast success in World Superbikes. But Yamaha rejected Razgatlioglu’s request to hire Marron as he last worked in MotoGP in 2016.

Brad Binder admits ‘sometimes things change’ after being linked with Toprak Razgatlioglu’s World Superbike crew chief

Now, The Race has shared further details on the speculation that Marron will leave BMW for the KTM MotoGP team to work with Binder, instead of Razgatlioglu at Pramac, next year. He was expected to stay at BMW, but he told the team at Estoril last week of his desire to leave.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname

Even Oliveira expected Marron to stay at BMW and work as his crew chief in the 2026 World Superbike Championship. But KTM are now instead said to be planning on replacing Madrid with Marron, who Binder has refused to totally rule out being his 2026 MotoGP crew chief.

Binder said, via quotes by The Race: “At the moment, everything’s staying the same. For the future, I’m not 100% sure. But, at the moment, everything’s the same.

“At the moment, I’m not too sure exactly what the changes will be, or if there will be any changes. I’d say it’s still wait to be seen. Until the end of the year, everything’s staying exactly the same, and then we’ll see after that.

“I really enjoy my team, I like everything exactly the way it is. I’m really happy. But you know, sometimes things change and let’s wait and see.”

KTM target Phil Marron to replace Andres Madrid after Brad Binder’s disappointing 2025

KTM looking to make a change in Binder’s set-up would not be too surprising given the term that the South African has produced. It is even reported that Binder came close to losing his factory KTM ride this year, having endured frustration throughout the 2025 MotoGP season.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Brad Binder from career stats to wife

While Binder’s factory KTM teammate Pedro Acosta sits fifth in the riders’ standings on 215 points ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, the 30-year-old is only 11th with 118 points. The Austrian brand have also seen Acosta secure three podiums, while Binder has secured zero.

Binder achieved his best result so far this term last time out in the Indonesian Grand Prix, as KTM’s long-time team leader finished fourth at Mandalika. Now, KTM seemingly hope hiring Marron as Binder’s crew chief for the 2026 MotoGP season will help him realise even more.